Convertible bench.



A. NELSON.

CONVERTIBLE BENCH.

Amlcmon FILED no. ma.

1,147,537. Patented July 20, 1915.

2 HIEETHHEET I.

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MUIIIA MIA," CO" WAIIIIM'IOOI. 0. IL

PATENT OFFICE.

UNITED STATES ANDREW NELSON, OF CHICAGO. ILLINOIS.

CONVERTIBLE BENCH.

Application filed May 10, 1813.

To all whom. it may concern lie it known that I An'nnnw NELSON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Convertible Benches. of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to convertible benches and more particularly to a device adapted for use as a bench when closed and for use as a bed or couch when extended.

The object of my improvement is to provide a device of the character mentioned which will be simple of construction and efficient in operation.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a bench embodying my invention, and having the seat portion opened, Fig. 2 is an enlarged section of the same with the seat closed, Fig. 3 is an enlarged fra mental view of a portion of the corner the construction in extended position, Fig. 4 is a view of the device in extended position, Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the same, and Fig. 6 is a side view of the portion shown in Fig. 3.

The preferred form of construction as illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprises a frame made up of our corner posts 7 which are connected in pairs by means of end portions 8. From two of the corner posts 7 are rigidly secured portions 9 which connect the remaining posts 7 completing the frame proper when the device is folded. Hingedly secured to each of the side rails 9 is connected a foldable side member 10. connected as at 11. Connecting each of the members 10 and the next corner post 7 are foldable members 12, secured to the members 10 and posts 7 by means of hinges 13. The portions 10 and 12 are adapted to be folded inside the frame when the device is closed and extended to form the side rails of the device when in extended condition. Pivotally secured to each of the members 10 is a spacing bar 14 and the same are provided with a connection by which their free ends are secured together to rigidly space Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 20, 1 it Serial No. 766,693.

the side rails of the device apart when in extended position. The connection between the members14 comprises a slot 15 in one member 1'4 and a thumb bolt 16 in the other of said members. To connect the members the slot 15 is engaged by the thumb 16 to rigidly lock the bars 14 in position. On the inside of members 10 and 12 opposite one of the hinges 13 are looking buttons 17 adapted to give 'urther rigidity to the oints between members 10 and 12 when the c evice isin extended position. A seat portion 18 is hinged to two of the corner posts 7 by means of hinges 19 and adapted to form a seat portion for the device when it is closed and for a l illow support when the device is opened.

he pivota movement of the member 18 on hinges 19 is limited by a sto 20 to maintain it in a position such as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5.

Secured to one of the end rails 8 is a flexible sheet of material 21, perferably formed of canvas. The sheet 21 is secured to the end rail 8 by means of a bar 22 securing the end of the sheet 21 substantially as indicated in Figs. 2 and 5. The other end of the flexible sheet 21 is rovided with a loop in which is mounted a ar 23. At each end of the bar 23 is hinged an arm 24, as at 25, and each of the arms 24 is provided with a pin 26 adapted to engage a socket 27 the latter being secured to said side rails. Stop members 28 are provided on the frame of the device in suitable positions to engage the free ends of the bar 23 to limit its downward movement, substantially asindicated in Figs. 3, 4-, l3 and 6.

Locking bars 20 are pivoted to the under sides of end rails 8 as at 30 and buttons 81 provided on said members 8 substantially in the positions indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 to lock the lower sides of the frame of the device when the device is in closed condition. The device is further locked when in this condition b means of locking links 32 which are pivotal y connected to the members 10. Buttons 33 are rovided on the members 12 to enga e suita )le slots in the links 32 to elleetivc y lock the upper sides of the portions of the frame thus locking the frame in a rigid body. The locking bars 29 further serve the purpose of supporting the flexible member 21 when rolled or folded in the closed condition of the device.

Secured along the side ed es of the flexible member 21 are ears 34. The side members 10 and 12 are provided with buttons 35 adapted to engage the free ends ofthe ears 34 and effect lateral streteliing'of'theflexible member .21.

In operation, the device is unfolded by moving the members 10 and 12 from the positions indicated in Fi .'1 to those indicated in Fig. 4, by moving them'on their pivotal connections. The members 14 are then locked substantially in the positions indicated in Fig. 4 to rigidl'v'spaee the side rails of the device apart. The buttons 17 are locked to give greater rigidityto thejframe. The flexible member'2'1 is unrolledatid the arms 24 swung on their pivotaloints'untilthe pins 26 engage so'ck'ets27f iie'n'the bar 23 ispressed downwardly until it engages the stops .28 thereby effectively locking the bar-23 in its mounting substantially as lndicated'in Figs.-4,-fi and 6. The'ears 34 are engaged oh the'buttons 35 to stretch the flexible sheet 21 taut laterally. The device isfoldetl in a similar manner to that'already explained for opening it, as will be readily understood.

While I- have illustrated and 1 described the preferred form of construction for carryin my invention into-effect, this is-capable o variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. 1, therefore, do notwish to be limited to the precise details of construction'set forth, but desire to avail myselfof such variations and modificationsms come withimthescope of the appended claims.

Having described'my invention what I claim as new and desire tosje'cure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of tlie-class=deseribed, comprising a pair of transverse end members and a pair of side members,-each ofs'aid side members comprising a plurality of foldably connected sections, in combination"with' a flexible sheet, one end of said sheetbeing fixedly secured to one'of said end members, a roller bar secured to the other end' of said 00 m 0! this patent may be'obtatned tor sheet, sockets in the side members to receive the ends of said roller bar, and cooperating means on said roller bar and said side memhere for maintaining the ends of said bar within said sockets, substantially as described.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a. pair of transverse end members and a pair of side members, each of said side members eomprisinga plurality of foldably connected sections, in combination with a flexible sheet. one end of said sheet being fixedly secured to one of'said end members. a roller bar secured to the other end of said sheet, sockets in the side members to re ceive the ends of said roller bar, arms hinged to said bar adjacent the ends thereof. laterally projecting pins on the ends of said a rins and sockets fixed to said side members above the level of the first mentioned sockets and toward the opposite end of the device to receive said pins, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a frame having rigid end portions and foldable side portions, the latter eomprisingmembers pivotally connected, catches locking said pivotal members against pivotal movement, a sheet of flexible material secured to one of said rigid end portions, a bar carried by the other end of said flexible material, arms carried at the'ends of said bar, socket members on the inner sides of said side portions, pins on the free ends of said arms detaehably engaging said socket'members', and supporting stops on said side portions limiting the downward swinging of saidarms, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name tov this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ANDREW NELSON.

Witnesses Joanna R. H. Po'rrs, IIELEN F. Lmms.

five cent! each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, 10.10. 

